Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard:

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to burns from accidental contact with hot steam pipes and fixtures: (a)Agropur, Inc. at 408 Dakota Street, Lake Norden, SD 57248: On or about and at times prior to August 16, 2022, the employer did not ensure employees working near the Rotating Molder Chiller machine #1 were protected from severe burn hazards due to potential contact with non-insulated and, or unguarded boiling water or steam pipe. This pipe, at approximately 210 degrees Fahrenheit ran along the edge of the machine, and was easily accessible via accidental contact. This condition exposed employees to burn hazards. (b)Agropur, Inc. at 408 Dakota Street, Lake Norden, SD 57248: On or about and at times prior to August 16, 2022, the employer did not ensure employees working near the Rotating Chiller Chiller machine #5 were protected from severe burn hazards due to potential contact with non-insulated and, or unguarded boiling water or steam pipes. The pipes, at approximately 135 degrees Fahrenheit and 195 degrees Fahrenheit ran along the edge of the machine, and were easily accessible via accidental contact. This condition exposed employees to burn hazards. (c)Agropur, Inc. at 408 Dakota Street, Lake Norden, SD 57248: On or about and at times prior to August 16, 2022, the employer did not ensure employees working or traveling around the "steam cabinet" in the whey area were protected from severe burn hazards due to potential contact with non-insulated and/or unguarded boiling water or steam pipes and fixtures. The pipes and fixtures, measured between approximately 93 degrees Fahrenheit and 288 degrees Fahrenheit ran along the wall of a thoroughfare, and were easily accessible via accidental contact. This condition exposed employees to burn hazards. Abatement Note: Among other feasible and acceptable methods of abatement are: 1. Insulate the hot pipes with insulating material; 2. Isolate the hot pipes by providing a barrier or guard to prevent employee contact, as described in OSHA Archive Interpretation 08/19/1998 - "Workers must be protected from hazards of heated (hot) surfaces", which includes references to: 1) National consensus standard, "Standard Guide for Heated System Conditions that Produce Contact Burn Injuries (C 1055-92)", issued by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), and 2) "Preventing Burns from Insulated Pipes", Chemical Engineering, Vol. 88, No 15 (July 27, 1981), pp 58-64.